Evidence supporting the use of: Saccharomyces boullardii
For the health condition: Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth

Links: Go back one page, Tool main page, Ingredients list, Health conditions list, Body systems list

Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Saccharomyces boulardii is a probiotic yeast with documented benefits for various gastrointestinal conditions, particularly antibiotic-associated diarrhea and some types of infectious diarrhea. When it comes to Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO), the scientific evidence supporting its use is limited but emerging. A few small studies and clinical reports suggest that S. boulardii may help reduce SIBO symptoms, particularly by modulating the gut microbiota, reducing inflammation, and possibly outcompeting pathogenic bacteria. For example, a 2014 pilot study by Gatta et al. found that S. boulardii, when administered with metronidazole, led to a higher rate of negative breath tests (a measure of SIBO resolution) compared to metronidazole alone. Other small clinical trials and case reports suggest some benefit in symptom reduction, but these studies are limited by small sample sizes, lack of blinding, and short duration. There is also mechanistic evidence that S. boulardii helps maintain gut barrier integrity and modulates immune responses, which could be beneficial in SIBO. However, as of 2024, there are no large, high-quality randomized controlled trials that definitively establish its efficacy for SIBO. Therefore, while there is some scientific rationale and preliminary clinical evidence, the overall strength of evidence is weak (rated 2 out of 5).

More about Saccharomyces boullardii
More about Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth

Products containing Saccharomyces boullardii

We currently have no products on Vitabase that contain this ingredient.